A deep high pressure ridge persisted across the Gulf of Mexico and Florida from early May through early July and resulted in several long stretches of recording breaking temperatures across much of east central Florida. Gusty west winds held the sea breeze offshore many of the days and allowed temperatures to rise to between the upper 90s and 101 degrees.Even on days in which sea breezes developed... temperatures rose into the mid to upper 90s and set or tied records.

During the period from June 7-10, June 26-27, and through most of July, high temperatures were near or above normal, but did not set daily records. All newly established records (and previous records) are listed below for the observation sites at Melbourne, Orlando, and Daytona Beach. .

NEW RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES

Date

Melbourne
new record

Melbourne
previous record

Orlando
new record

Orlando
previous record

Daytona Beach
new record

Daytona Beach
previous record

June 1

96 (tie)

96 (1985)

100 (1945)

98 (1985)

June 2

99

94 (1985)

96 (1985)

101

97 (1937)

June 3

98

96 (1985)

96 (1985)

100

98 (1985)

June 4

99

94 (1980)

100 (1985)

100

95 (1990)

June 5

100

96 (1980)

98

96 (1980)

101

96 (1937)

June 6

101

96 (1971)

98

97 (1949)

100

97 (1949)

Date

Melbourne
new record

Melbourne
previous record

Orlando
new record

Orlando
previous record

Daytona Beach
new record

Daytona Beach
previous record

June 11

97

96 (1981)

97 (1977)

97(1941)

June 12

97 (tie)

97 (1952)

99 (1952)

98 (1952)

June 13

97

96 (1963)

99 (1977)

99

95 (1963)

June 14

101

98 (1963)

99 (1977)

101

98 (1963)

June 15

100

96 (1963)

97 (tie)

97 (1958)

99

96 (1981)

June 16

98

96 (1961)

98

97 (1963)

100

98 (1981)

June 17

99

93 (1971)

100

98 (1981)

98 (tie)

98 (1981)

June 18

99

97 (1964)

100

99 (1950)

99 (1985)

June 19

99

95 (1964)

100

98 (1985)

100

96 (1985)

June 20

99

96 (1990)

99

98 (1948)

98 (1990)

June 21

98

97 (1961)

98

97 (1948)

96 (1944)

June 22

97

95 (1992)

98 (1987)

96 (tie)

96 (1990)

June 23

96

95 (1964)

98 (1950)

100 (1944)

June 24

97

96 (1980)

99 (1944)

99 (1944)

June 25

96

96 (1980)

99 (1948)

99 (1944)

Date

Melbourne
new record

Melbourne
previous record

Orlando
new record

Orlando
previous record

Daytona Beach
new record

Daytona Beach
previous record

June 28

97 (1954)

97

96 (1954)

99 (1954)

June 29

97 (1980)

99

96 (1952)

98

97 (1977)

June 30

99

95 (1972)

99

96 (1948)

100

96 (1988)

July 1

99

95 (1992)

99

97 (1978)

100

97 (1990)

July 2

100

95 (1997)

101

97 (1972)

99

96 (1970)

July 3

99

96 (1978)

100

97 (1997)

96 (tie)

96 (1978)

July 4

98 (1963)

97 (tie)

97 (1992)

97 (1997)

Date

Melbourne
new record

Melbourne previous record

Orlando
new record

Orlando previous record

Daytona Beach new record

Daytona Beach previous record

July 6

99 (tie)

99 (1966)

98 (1980)

98

97 (1980)

Date

Melbourne
new record

Melbourne previous record

Orlando
new record

Orlando
previous record

Daytona Beach
new record

Daytona Beach
previous record

July 8

97

96 (1961)

98 (1969)

98 (1981)

July 9

95 (tie)

95 (1995)

97 (1992)

96

95 (1995)

Date

Melbourne
new record

Melbourne previous record

Orlando
new record

Orlando
previous record

Daytona Beach
new record

Daytona Beach previous record

July 28

97

95 (1950)

99 (1949)

98 (1992)

The high temperature at Melbourne has been at or above normal during 93 of the last 94 days.

High temperature records were set or tied at Melbourne on 15 consecutive days during June and on 29 days since June 1st.

High temperature records have been set or tied at Daytona Beach 19 days since June 1st.

High temperature records have been set or tied at Orlando 14 days since June 1st.

The hottest day ever recorded in Melbourne since records began in 1948 occurred on July 14, 1980...when the maximum temperature reached 102 degrees.

The hottest day ever recorded in Daytona Beach since records began in 1935 occurred on June 24, 1944 and July 15, 1981 when the maximum temperature reached 102 degrees.

The hottest day ever recorded in Orlando since records began in 1945 occurred on May 31, 1945 when 102 degrees was reached.

Number of days since June 1 that maximum temperatures reached at least 95 and 100 degrees across East Central Florida

Melbourne

Melbourne

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach

Orlando

Orlando

95 F or greater

100 F or greater

95 F or greater

100 F or greater

95 F or greater

100 F or greater

40

5

36

10

37

5

Recent WET and DRY periodsNovember 1997 - July 1998

Extremely wet conditions occurred across east central Florida during the Winter - normally the "dry season". A majority of the rainfall was associated with the passage of numerous "Gulf Lows" and associated cold fronts.

Weather patterns shifted drastically by late March, resulting in a 3 1/2 month period of abnormally dry conditions. The dry weather persisted into the Summer - delaying the typical onset of the "wet season". By mid-late May...persistent dry conditions began to lead to numerous wildfires. Extremely hot, dry, and often breezy conditions in June allowed wildfires to grow and spread quickly. Wildfires became extreme during the first few days of July, forcing evacuation of over 100,000 residents. While scattered lightning storms brought some local relief from the high temperatures and dry conditions, associated lightning strikes also ignited additional wildfires.

Widespread showers and thunderstorms returned to central Florida on July 6 and lasted for several days. A Climatologically "normal" rainfall became established by mid July as scattered thunderstorms occurred daily across the region.